Acetylene-generator.



N. J. ANDERSON. AGETYLENE GENERATOR. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13, 1911.

Patented June 17, 1913.

IHI

INVENTOR Ji AIL arm COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60.. WASHINGTON. n, c.

NEWTON J. ANDERSON, OF COFFEYVILLE, KANSAS.

ACETYLENE-GENEBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

Application filed May 13, 1911. Serial No. 627,018.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NEWTON J. ANDnnsoN, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Coffeyville, in thecounty of Montgomery and State of Kansas, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Acet-ylene- Generators, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawing.

This invention relates to the subject of producing gaseous fuels for usein connection with welding and other tools, and the principal object ofthe same is to provide a producing plant in which acetylene gas can begenerated, the plant being equipped with certain safety devices ashereinafter described.

iVith the above and other objects in view, this invent-ion consists ingeneral of certain novel details of construction, combination andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in the several views, and Figure l is a front elevation of theimproved generator. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view showing the upperportion of the carbid receptacle and the safety appliances. Figs. 3 andt are detail views partly in section showing the means for locking thesafety valve operating arm. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of thevalve operating arm, certain of the parts being shown in sect-ion. Fig.6 is a vertical section of the safety valve. Fig. 7 is a view at rightangles to Fig. 1 showing the upper part of the device.

The improved fuel generating plant is of special utility in theproduction of acetylene gas for use in connection with the type ofwelding torches shown in U. S. Letters Pat ent No. 976,717 granted to meNovember 22, 1910.

The improved acetylene generator comprises an acetylene tank 23 which isrigidly secured to a platform 24, said tank being preferablycylindrical. At its lower portion, the tank 23 is provided with acleanout opening from which a tube 27 projects laterally. A flanged cap29 fits snugly over the outer end of the tube 27 to control the same,and on this cap 29 is provided a hand grip 32 preferably in the form ofa wheel so that the latter may be screwed on or ofi the tube.

At a point above the bottom, the tank 23 is provided with an openingfrom which an elbow 34; projects outwardly, said elbow carrying a trap35 which forms a liquid seal to prevent air entering the tank 23, andfrom said trap extends a vertical pipe 36 carrying on its upper end avalve casing 37 which has its inlet end provided with a coupling sleeve38 into which projects a funnel 39 so that the tank may be charged withwater. As will be obvious, the funnel 39 is but one of the many ways inwhich water can be placed in the tank through the pipe 36 since thecoupling sleeve 38 is capable of being used with any type of tubularwater-conveying devices.

A flanged cover 40 is rigidly fastened in overlapping gas-tight relationto the upper edge of the tank 23. A carbid receptacle -12 is providedwith an outstanding flange 44 arranged to overlap and seal the jointbetween the cover and the receptacle of the gas-tank. On this receptacleis a cap 53 and an operating rod 55 is slidable through the cap 53 andhas its projecting upper end provided with a bifurcated head 56 in whicha rocking lever 57 is pivotally mounted. This lever has pivotalconnection by means of a link 57 wit-h an upstanding ear 58 carried bythe carbid receptacle. The other end of said lever is provided with aneye 59 which is engaged by the end hook 60 of the handle 61 preferablyformed with a triangular hand grip 62. A spring 62 is coiled about therod 55 and has one end bearing on the head 56 and the other end bearingon the cap 53 so that the rod 55 is normally retained in anoutwardly-projected position.

The cylindrical washing tank 68 is rigidly fastened to the platform 2%and is arranged vertically and in proximity to the acetylene tank 23.The tank 68 is preferably smaller in diameter and of less length thanthe tank 23 and is provided with a raised bottom 69 at the lowerportion. The tank 68 is provided with a clean-out opening 70 from whicha tube 71 projects which tube is pro-- vided with a controlling valve72. At an intermediate point the tank 68 is provided with an opening 7 3from which a filling pipe 74 projects. The upper end of the pipe 74 isprovided with a controlling valve 7 5, the casing of which is equippedwith a coupling sleeve 76 in which a funnel 77 or other means forfacilitating the passage of water is seated. A flanged cover 78 isfitted gastight over the upper end of the tank 68. An externallythreaded inlet pipe 79 projects through the cover 78 and its lower endten minates adjacent the lower end of the tank (38. The pipe 79 at itsupper end has a branch '79- coupled to the casing of a safety valve 80%A discharge tube 81 projects from the cover 40 of the tank 23 and apressure gage S2 is carried by the tube 81. A discharge pipe 83 extendsthrough the cover of the tank (58, said pipe 83 having its lower endarranged above the water level in the tank 68.

The carbid receptacle 452 is provided with a filling opening that isnorn'ially sealed by a plug 86. The head of the plug is preferablynut-shaped. In connection with the plug 86 which controls the chargingof the receptacle 42, the invention provides means whereby the safetyvalve 80 is operated if an attempt is made to remove the said plug sothat the gas will be conveyed through a pipe 8? to a distance from theplant so that danger of an explosion being caused by gas escapingthrough the filling opening of the receptacle a2 is avoided. This safetydevice comprises a band 88 that encircles the receptacle 12 and carriesa laterally projecting supporting arm 89, one longitudinal edge of whichis provided with a recess 90. A valve operating lever 91 has a pivotalconnection 92 with the free end port-ion of the arm 89. A lever 91 hasan upwardly-projecting portion 93 from which an arm 94: projects overthe top of the receptacle 12 and has its free end provided with a cap 95that is open at one end. The cap 95 normally incloses the nut-shapedhead of the plug 86 so that in order to remove said plug, it will benecessary to rock the lever 91 on its pivotal connection with the arm 89so that the cap 95 will uncover said plug. free end of the lever 91 hasa chain or other flexible connection 96 with the operating lever 97 ofthe valve 80 The lever 91 carries a laterally-projecting lock housing 98through which a bolt 99 is slidable. A. spring 100 is coiled about thesaid bolt and bears against the enlarged portion 101 thereof and theupper portion of the casing with sufficient tension to normally Theproject the lower portion of the bolt below the base of the housing sothat said bolt will engage the recess 90 of the arm 89 to lock therod 91to said arm. Said bolt 99 is provided with a hand grip 102 by means ofwhich said bolt may be manually removed from the recess 90 to releasethe lever 91.

By employing the described safety device, it will be seen that beforethe plug 86 can be removed from the filling opening, the lever 91 mustbe released from the arm 89 and then swung on its pivotal connectionwith said arm to remove the cap 95 from said plug, and said lever 91being connected to the operating lever of the safety valve 80% it willbe clear that the swinging movement of said lever will cause said leverto open the said valve so that the gas will pass out of the tank 23 andbe conveyed to a distant point by the pipe 87 before the plug 86 can beremoved.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. An acetylene gas generator including a tank, a gas outlet therefor, asafety valve carried by said outlet, a carbid receptacle carried by saidtank and provided with a filling opening, a plug sealing said opening, asupporting arm carried by said tank, an. operating lever pivotallyconnected to said arm, means for connecting one end of said lever tosaid safety valve, a cap carried by the other end of said arm andnormally inclosing said plug, and means for locking said lever to saidarm.

2. An acetylene generator including a tank and carbid receptacle, asafety valve for said tank, said receptacle being provided with afilling opening, a plug for sealing said opening, a supporting armcarried by said tank, a valveoperating lever pivotally connected to saidarm, means connecting one end of said lever to said valve, pluginclosing means carried by the other end of said lever. and a lockingbolt carried by said lever for engaging said arm.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

NEWTON J. ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses C. A. STOUT, N. G. BAILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe (lommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

